Cryoanalgesia Study

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Pain, Postoperative

In brief

This study will investigate the feasibility of cryoanalgesia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery via a median sternotomy. Cryoanalgesia is a technique that uses extremely cold temperatures to temporarily ablate nerves and block pain signals. Cryoanalgesia has been used for decades for pain control after thoracic surgery and has been associated with decreased opioid consumption, decreased pain scores, and shorter hospital stays. The results of this study may lead to a useful alternative for pain control in cardiac surgery patients.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05859061

Run by

Northwestern University

People needed

32

Starts

2023-04-10

Expected to finish

2026-05-20

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-27

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Scheduled for elective CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) or single valve surgery via median sternotomy
• Reasonable expectation to be extubated within 24 hours postop

You may not qualify if…

• Prior history of surgery to the thorax (sternotomy, thoracotomy, thoracoscopy)
• Hemisternotomy approach
• History of cold urticaria, cryoglobulinemia, Raynaud's disease, or diabetic neuropathy
• Preoperative use of opioids
• History of chronic pain or associated syndromes
• Concurrent Cox maze procedure
• Need for post-bypass mechanical circulatory support (ECMO, IABP) or open chest
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Patients who are unable to consent for themselves

Where it is running

• Northwestern University — Chicago, Illinois, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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